Trainer De Bromhead at a loss to explain run
HENRY de Bromhead remains keen to head to the Savills Chase at Leopardstown next month with A Plus Tard after so far failing to find an obvious reason for his disappointing return to action at Haydock on Saturday.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding was a brilliant winner of the Betfair Chase 12 months ago and was unsurprisingly a short price to double up on his first start since convincingly claiming Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March.
However, A Plus Tard failed to travel or jump with his trademark enthusiasm and Rachael Blackmore pulled him up early in the home straight.
De Bromhead remains perplexed by the performance – but if nothing comes to light over the coming days he will put a line through it and move on.
“Nothing (has shown up) as yet. I just saw him this morning and he trotted out perfect,” the County Waterford handler said yesterday.
“We just don’t know at the moment. Our vet was doing a lot of things with him this morning and I